Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Henry Winslow Corbett papers, 1851-1944
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Corbett, Henry Winslow, 1827-1903
- Title
- Henry Winslow Corbett papers
- Dates
- 1851-1944 (inclusive)
- Quantity
- 10.7 cubic feet , (30 boxes, 19 document boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 1 card file box, and 8 custom-boxed volumes), (2 photographic prints)
- Collection Number
- Mss 1110
- Summary
- Business and personal papers of Henry Winslow Corbett and associates under the business names Josiah Failing & Company (1851-1871), Failings & Hatt (1859-1864), Failing & Hatt (1864-1871), H. W. Corbett Company (1851-1871), H.W. Corbett & Company (1868-1871), and Corbett, Failing & Company (1871-1893). Includes business correspondence, agreements, records, and accounts; personal letters, ephemera, accounts and legal documents; and correspondence, speeches and other documents from Corbett's duty as U. S. Senator for Oregon.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public. Some materials may be restricted due to fragile condition.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding
aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Additional support for collection preservation provided by a Preservation Assistance Grant, 2005 from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Henry Winslow Corbett, an early pioneer and Portland businessman, was born 18 February 1827 in Westboro, Mass. His father was a mechanic who established the first edged tool factory in that part of the state. Henry left school at age thirteen to work with a storekeeper in New York state. He later served as a clerk at Williams Bradford & Co., a dry goods store. At age 23 he journeyed to Portland with funds provided by his employers. His voyage around Cape Horn on the ship Frances and Louise took six months to complete.
Henry W. Corbett arrived in Portland 4 March 1851. The new city, which was located on the banks of the Willamette River, had only 400 people. It is not clear whether the newly established merchandising business was wholly owned by Corbett or shared with Williams Bradford & Co. It was located at Fourth and Oak streets, on the second floor of a partially finished building. Henry slept on a bed under the counter, pulling up the stairs at night for added security.
The new business prospered. After fourteen months, Corbett returned to New York, where he remained for one year. An arrangement with Robert and Finley McLaren helped Corbett maintain business ties with Portland. Some months after his return to Portland, he dissolved that partnership and established a general merchandising business under his own name, H. W. Corbett . In 1871, Corbett eventually merged with Josiah Failing and Company, a wholesale general merchandising business that was founded by Josiah Failing and his son Henry in 1851, and the new business became Corbett, Failing & Co., which remained in operation until 1893. (The Failings also partnered with John A. Hatt, forming Failings and Hatt, from 1859-1871. When Josiah Failing died in 1864, the business used the name Failing and Hatt; the name was changed to Corbett, Failing & Co. in the 1871 merger.) Henry W. Corbett and Henry Failing also jointly bought the controlling interest in the First National Bank in 1867, and Corbett served as one of its executives for many years.
Transportation was another of Henry W. Corbett's business interests. He supported construction of the Northern Pacific Railway. Corbett served as director of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company which eventually became part of the Union Pacific Railroad. He also formed the Oregon-California Stage Company which carried mail and passengers between Portland and San Francisco in 1865. Corbett relinquished supervision of the route to his brother and Edward Failing in 1867. Corbett also served as a director of the City and Suburban Railway Company, as well as the Columbia River and Northern Railway Company, and was an officer of the Trinidad Asphalt Company.
Henry W. Corbett was briefly involved in 1899 with a proposal to provide electric power to the city by installing generators at the city reservoirs. Portland Public Power was formed to investigate the idea. While it was an interesting concept, the idea was never implemented.
A leader in Oregon's Republican Party, Corbett became interested in politics and served as Oregon's elected United States Senator from 1867-1873, succeeding James W. Nesmith. He was reappointed Senator on 6 March 1897 but lost the seat due to legal technicalities involving the new legislature. A 1901 bid for reelection failed. Corbett instead became vice president of the First National Bank, and then president for four years after Henry Failing's death. Corbett was also president of Security Savings and Trust Company from its inception, president of the Board of Trade, chairman of the Committee of One Hundred, and was active in the Chamber of Commerce and the First Presbyterian church. He was president of the Riverview Cemetery Company, and with that group involved in developing Portland's municipal water works. He also served as a director of the Portland Gas Company. His charitable contributions aided the Portland Academy, Pacific University, Portland Library, Portland Art Association, Y.M.C.A, Boys' and Girls' Aid Society, City Board of Charities, Homeopathic Hospital, and Presbyterian churches throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Henry W. Corbett was married twice. His first marriage to Caroline E. Jagger (1829-1865) of Albany, New York, took place in February 1853. They had two sons, Henry Jagger Corbett (1857-1895) and Hamilton F. Corbett (1860- 1884). Henry was married a second time in 1867 to Emma L. Ruggles (1846- 1936) of Worcester, Massachusetts. They had no children.
A home for the Corbett family was completed in December 1875. It was constructed in Portland at 825 SW Fifth Avenue, at the time considered the suburbs in the town of 14,000 people. Henry traveled to Europe, gathering information and sketc.hes on architectural styles which he turned over to W.H. Williams, a promising young architect who had graduated from Columbia College in New York. After many years the elegant home on its own city block became surrounded by businesses. Late in her life, Mrs. Corbett and the family cow refused to be intimidated by their new neighbors. However, after her death in 1936 the house was torn down to be replaced by the Greyhound bus depot.
Toward the end of Corbett's life he had became the target of blackmailers. In 1900 he loaned money to a young woman to pay the hospital bills incurred by her father, a pioneer Corbett knew by reputation. When the woman, Inez Peterson, continued to ask for funds, he refused. Her husband, E.E. Peterson alleged Corbett had formed an improper relationship with his wife, causing her to sue for divorce. He sued Corbett for alienation of affection, asking $100,000 in damages. Corbett hired Pinkerton's agency to conduct an investigation into the Peterson's backgrounds. Eventually it was determined the blackmailing scheme was instigated by Mrs. Peterson and her lawyer, who then dropped the case.
After a full and productive life, Henry W. Corbett passed away at daybreak, 31 March 1903. He was 76 years old. He had spent the prior day focused on his role as president of the Lewis and Clark Fair Association, later known as the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. Recognizing his failing strength, he resolved to resign just eighteen hours before his death. Corbett's sons predeceased him so his grandson, Henry Ladd Corbett, came home from Harvard College to run the family business.
(Biography written by Gaye Richardson, October 2004, with revisions by Megan K. Friedel, November 2006.)
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Business and personal papers of Henry Winslow Corbett and associates under the business names Josiah Failing & Company (1851-1870), Failings & Hatt (1859-1864), Failing & Hatt (1864-1871), H.W. Corbett Company (1851-1871), H.W. Corbett & Company (1868-1871), and Corbett, Failing & Company. Business associates include Henry Failing and Josiah Failing of Portland, Oregon, John A. Hatt of New York City, and Samuel T. House. Corbett's other business interests included the Oregonian newspaper, First National Bank of Portland, Ladd and Tilton Investment Company, and the Oregon-California Stage Company. The collection includes business correspondence, agreements, records, and accounts; personal letters, ephemera, accounts, estate records, and photographs; correspondence and legal documents from Corbett's duty as U.S. Senator for Oregon; papers from Corbett's involvement in the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition (1905), and Corbett family papers and correspondence. Personal letters (1937-1944) to Corbett descendant Hamilton F. Corbett and his wife Harriet Cumming Corbett were also added to the collection.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any publication use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Henry Winslow Corbett papers, Mss 1110, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following five series:
- Series A: Josiah Failing and Company, 1852-1870
- Series B: Failings and Hatt, 1859-1871
- Subseries 1: Business letters, 1859-1869
- Subseries 2: Invoices, orders , receipts, promissory notes, bills of lading, accounts, and checks, 1859-1871 and undated
- Series C: H. W. Corbett businesses, 1850-1880
- Subseries 1: Business letters, 1858-1869
- Subseries 2: Accounts, invoices, receipts, promissory notes, checks, and orders, 1850-1880 and undated
- Subseries 3: Bills of lading, 1857-1878
- Series D: Corbett, Failing and Company, 1854-1895 and undated
- Subseries 1: Business papers, 1854-1891
- Subseries 2: Invoices, orders, receipts, accounts, and checks, 1870-1895 and undated
- Subseries 3: Bills of lading, 1870-1893
- Subseries 4: Bills, 1883 March-November
- Series E: Personal papers of Henry W. Corbett, 1853-1904 and
undated
- Subseries 1: Personal and family papers, 1853-1903 and undated
- Subseries 2: Personal investments and business interests, 1853-1904
- Subseries 3: Political papers, 1867-1902 and undated
- Series F: Corbett Family Letters, 1937-1944
Acquisition Information
Various library accessions, including Lib. Acc. 8552, 10353, 16312, and 19744. Lib. Acc. 27982 added April 2014.
Processing Note
Significant reordering of items within the collection was done in conjunction with the creation of this guide. Many business documents are fire-damaged.
Includes material previously designated Mss 1110-1 and Mss 1110-2.
Related Materials
Corbett, Failing & Robertson Catalog, Portland, 1900, Business collection, Mss 1510, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Henry Failing papers, Mss 650, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Vertical File, “Biography - Corbett, Henry Winslow," Oregon Historical Research Library
Corbett, Failing & Company (Portland, Ore.) Records, 1851-1898, Mss 38, University of the Pacific Library Hold-Atherton Department of Special Collections, Stockton, Calif.
Oregon Ephemera collection, OLPb090ORE, Lewis & Clark College Special Collections & Archives, Portland, Or.
Materials relating to Henry W. Corbett, Corbett, Failing & Company, and Oregon Stage Company are also found in The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Bibliography
"H.W. Corbett - Portland’s Foremost Citizen Passes Away," Oregonian, 1903 April 3, part 2, p. 1.
“Mr. Corbett’s Case,” Baker City Democrat, 1900 July 16.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series A: Josiah Failing and Company, 1852-1870Return to Top
This series contains the business records of Josiah Failing and Company of Portland, Or. (operating 1851-1870), including records inscribed to Josiah Failing and Henry Failing. In addition, this series includes invoices relating to the construction of the First Baptist Church (Portland, Or.) and correspondence relating to employment in Portland Public School.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Invoices, promissory notes, bills
of lading, orders and accounts |
1853-1866 and undated |
1/2 | Invoices, promissory notes, bills
of lading, orders and accounts |
1870 |
18/1 | Invoices, etc. |
1853-1863 |
18/2 | Invoices, etc. |
1864 |
18/3 | Invoices, etc. |
1865-1867 |
18/4 | Invoices, etc. |
1868-1869 |
18/5 | Invoices, etc. |
1870 |
1/3 | Receipts |
1852-1967; 1855 |
16/1 | Receipt book |
1853-1855 |
18/6 | Construction of First Baptist
Church (Portland, Or.) |
1862 |
18/7 | Correspondence - J. Failing &
Co. |
1856-1858 |
18/8 | Letters to Henry
Failing |
1855; 1862-1870 |
18/9 | Letters to Edward
Failing |
1865; 1868 |
1/4 | Correspondence, Portland Public
School
Letters of application for positions in Portland's public
school.
|
1859-1861 |
Series B: Failings and Hatt, 1859-1871Return to Top
This series contains materials from Failings and Hatt, a business partnership between the Failings of Portland, Oregon, and John A. Hatt of New York City, which operated between 1859 and 1871. When Josiah Failing died in 1864, the business used the name Failing and Hatt. Included are business letters, business records, and financial accounts.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Subseries 1: Business letters 11
folders.
|
1859-1869 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/5 | Letters |
1859 |
1/6 | Letters |
1860-1861 |
1/7 | Letters |
1862 |
1/8 | Letters |
1863 January-June |
1/9 | Letters |
1863 July-August |
1/10 | Letters |
1863 September-October |
1/11 | Letters |
1863 November-December |
1/12 | Letters -- Letterpress
copies |
1862-1863 |
1/13 | Letters |
1864; 1866; 1868-1869 |
18/10 | Correspondence |
1862-1869 |
18/11 | First National Bank general
statements |
1871-1872 |
Subseries 2: Invoices, orders , receipts,
promissory notes, bills of lading, accounts, and checks 18
folders
|
1859-1871; undated | |
Box/Folder | ||
2/1 | Invoices, etc.. |
1859-1867; undated |
2/2 | Invoices, etc. |
1867 |
2/3 | Invoices, etc. |
1868 April-July |
2/4 | Invoices, etc. |
1868 August-November |
2/5 | Invoices, etc. |
1869 January-June |
2/6 | Invoices, etc. |
1869 July-August |
2/7 | Invoices, etc. |
1869 September-November |
2/8 | Invoices, etc. |
1870-1871 |
18/12 | Invoices, etc. |
1860-1863 |
18/13 | Invoices, etc. |
1864; 1870 |
2/9 | Bills of lading |
1863-1864 |
2/10 | Bills of lading |
1867-1871 |
2/11 | Bank book |
1859-1862 |
2/12 | Trial balance
sheets |
1859-1870 |
2/13 | Vol. 10: Notes and Bills
Payable Book |
1859-1863 |
17/1 | Cancelled checks, John A. Hatt
Co. |
1859 |
17/2 | Cancelled checks, Failings
& Hatt |
1851-1864 |
17/3 | Cancelled checks, Failing &
Hatt |
1864-1871; 1869 |
Series C: H. W. Corbett businesses, 1850-1880Return to Top
This series contains the business records of H. W. Corbett Company (operating 1851-1871) and H. W. Corbett and Company (operating 1868-1871). Many letters are to Samuel T. House, Agent, NewYork.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Subseries 1: Business letters 13 folders and 1 boxed
volume.
|
1858-1869 | |
Box/Folder | ||
3/1 | Letters |
1858-1859 |
3/2 | Letters |
1861 |
3/3 | Letters |
1862 |
3/4 | Letters |
1863 January-October |
3/5 | Letters |
1863 November-December |
3/6 | Letters |
1864 March-September |
3/7 | Letters |
1864 October-December |
3/8 | Letters |
1865-1866 |
3/9 | Letters |
1867 |
3/10 | Letters |
1868-1869 |
Volume | ||
Vol. 2 | Letter press copy
book |
1862-1864 |
Box/Folder | ||
19/1 | Correspondence - H.W.
Corbett |
1852-1871 |
19/2 | Correspondence - Samuel T.
House |
1863-1869 |
Subseries 2: Accounts, invoices, receipts,
promissory notes, checks, and orders 23 folders and 2 boxed
volumes
|
1850-1880 and undated | |
Box/Folder | ||
3/11 | Price lists |
1857-1880 and undated |
19/3 | Business cards |
1867; 1869 |
3/12 | Vol. 1, Cashbook number
2 |
1859-1861 |
Volume | ||
Vol. 3 | Invoice book |
1864-1866 |
Vol. 4 | Alphabetical account
book |
1866 |
Box/Folder | ||
4/1 | Invoices, etc..
Includes two items from Mss 1110-2 (Library Accession
19744)
|
1850-1855 |
4/2 | Invoices, etc.. |
1856-1858 |
4/3 | Invoices, etc.. |
1859 January-May |
4/4 | Invoices, etc.. |
1859 June-December |
4/5 | Invoices, etc.. |
1860-1863 |
4/6 | Invoices, etc.. |
1864 January-September |
4/7 | Invoices, etc.. |
1864 October-November |
4/8 | Invoices, etc.. |
1864 December |
4/9 | Invoices, etc.. |
1865 January-April |
4/10 | Invoices, etc.. |
1865 May-December |
4/11 | Invoices, etc.. |
1866 January-August |
4/12 | Invoices, etc.. |
1866 September, November-December |
5/1 | Invoices, etc.. |
1867 |
5/2 | Invoices, etc.. |
1868-1869 |
5/3 | Invoices, etc.. |
1870 |
5/4 | Invoices, etc.. |
1871 January-May |
5/5 | Invoices, etc.. |
1871 June-December |
19/4 | Invoices, etc.. |
1850-1852; 1854-1855 |
19/5 | Invoices, etc.. |
1857-1859 |
19/6 | Invoices, etc.. |
1861-1870 |
Subseries 3: Bills of lading 7
folders
|
1857-1878 | |
Box/Folder | ||
5/6 | Bills of lading |
1857-1864 |
5/7 | Bills of lading |
1866 |
5/8 | Bills of lading |
1867 |
5/9 | Bills of lading |
1868-1869 |
5/10 | Bills of lading |
1870 |
5/11 | Bills of lading |
1871 |
5/12 | Bills of lading |
1872; 1876-1878 |
Series D: Corbett, Failing and Company, 1854-1895, undatedReturn to Top
Business papers of Corbett, Failing and Company, which was in operation from 1871-1893. The business was created by a merger of Failing & Hatt and H. W. Corbett & Co. Also included are some materials from the successor company, Corbett, Failing & Robertson.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Subseries 1: Business papers 2
folders.
|
1854-1891 | |
Box/Folder | ||
6/1 | Business agreements
Documents relating to partnerships involving Corbett and
Failing. Includes articles of copartnership and supporting documentation, and
documents relating to the purchase and sale of company shares as well as
company investments. Some agreements relate to previous business alliances
subsequently dissolved.
|
1854-1891 |
6/2 | Insurance papers |
1889-1891 |
Subseries 2: Invoices, orders, receipts,
accounts, and checks 57 folders and 6 boxed
volumes.
|
1870-1895 and undated | |
Box/Folder | ||
6/3 | Invoices, etc. |
1870 |
6/4 | Invoices, etc. |
1871 January-June |
6/5 | Invoices, etc. |
1871 July |
6/6 | Invoices, etc. |
1871 July |
6/7 | Invoices, etc. |
1871 August-December |
6/8 | Invoices, etc. |
1872 January-April |
6/9 | Invoices, etc. |
1872 May |
6/10 | Invoices, etc. |
1872 June |
6/11 | Invoices, etc. |
1872 July |
6/12 | Invoices, etc. |
1872 August |
7/1 | Invoices, etc. |
1872 August |
7/2 | Invoices, etc. |
1872 September-December |
7/3 | Invoices, etc. |
1873 |
7/4 | Invoices, etc. |
1874 |
7/5 | Invoices, etc. |
1875 |
7/6 | Invoices, etc. |
1876 |
7/7 | Invoices, etc. |
1877 |
7/8 | Invoices, etc. |
1878 January-November |
7/9 | Invoices, etc. |
1878 December |
7/10 | Invoices, etc. |
1878 December |
8/1 | Invoices, etc. |
1879 January-June |
8/2 | Invoices, etc. |
1879 July-December |
8/3 | Invoices, etc. |
1880-1882 |
8/4 | Invoices, etc. |
1883 (except April) |
8/5 | Invoices, etc. |
1883 April |
8/6 | Invoices, etc. |
1884 January-April |
8/7 | Invoices, etc. |
1884 May-June |
9/1 | Invoices, etc. |
1884 July |
9/2 | Invoices, etc. |
1884 August-September |
9/3 | Invoices, etc. |
1884 October-December |
9/4 | Invoices, etc. |
1885-1888 |
9/5 | Invoices, etc. |
1889 |
9/6 | Invoices, etc. |
1890 |
9/7 | Invoices, etc. |
1891 |
9/8 | Invoices, etc. |
1892 February-May |
9/9 | Invoices, etc. |
1892 June-July |
9/10 | Invoices, etc. |
1892 August-December |
9/11 | Invoices, etc. |
1894-1895; undated |
19/7 | Invoices, etc. |
1871-1875; undated |
19/8 | Invoices, etc. |
1876-1885 |
19/9 | Invoices, etc. |
1886-1891 |
19/10 | Invoice - Corbett, Failing
& Robertson |
1895 January 11 |
10/1 | Invoices, Golden Fleece
(ship) |
1877 August 14 |
10/2 | Invoices, Continental
(ship) |
1877 August 31 |
10/3 | Invoices, Patterdale
(ship) |
1877 August 31 |
10/4 | Invoices, Ocean King
(ship) |
1877 September 15 |
10/5 | Invoices, Edith
(ship) |
1877 September 29 |
10/6 | Invoices, Conqueror
(ship) |
1877 October 15 |
10/7 | Invoices, Twilight
(ship) |
1877 October 29 |
10/8 | Invoices, Seminole
(ship) |
1877 November 9 |
10/9 | Invoices, Saint Paul
(ship) |
1877 November 20 |
10/10 | Invoices, Dauntless
(ship) |
1877 November 24 |
10/11 | Invoices, Grecian
(ship) |
1877 December 5 |
10/12 | Invoices, Saint Mark
(ship) |
1877 December 7 |
10/13 | Invoices, Sintram
(ship) |
1877 December 23 |
17/4 | Cancelled checks, Corbett,
Failing & Co. |
1871-1889 |
Volume | ||
Vol. 6 | Order book, Cape Horn and
Rail |
1876-1878 |
Vol. 7 | Order book, Cape Horn and
Steamer |
1878-1879 |
Vol. 8 | Order book, Steamer, rail, and
Cape Horn |
1879-1881 |
Vol. 9 | Order book, Cape Horn and
Rail |
1881-1883 |
Vol. 11 | Correspondence and invoice
Book
This volume is fire damaged and extremely brittle. Requires permission of archivist for use.
|
1871-1872 |
12 | Letter and account
book
This fire-damaged volume was disbound for preservation reasons and organized in folders, retaining the original alphabetical order.
|
1875 |
19/11 | Correspondence |
1870-1875 |
Subseries 3: Bills of lading 7
folders
|
1870-1893 | |
Box/Folder | ||
10/14 | Bills of lading |
1870-1871 |
10/15 | Bills of lading |
1872, 1874-1875 |
10/16 | Bills of lading |
1876 |
10/17 | Bills of lading |
1877 |
10/18 | Bills of lading |
1878-1885; 1889 |
10/19 | Bills of lading |
1892 |
10/20 | Bills of lading |
1893 |
Subseries 4: Bills 28
folders.
Arranged alphabetically by month.
This subseries contains bills for goods and services purchased
by Corbett, Failing, and Company for the year 1883. They were removed from
damaged accordion files but their original order is retained.
|
1883 March-November | |
Box/Folder | ||
11/1 | Bills -- A-E |
1883 March |
11/2 | Bills -- F-G |
1883 March |
11/3 | Bills -- H-R |
1883 March |
11/4 | Bills -- S-Z |
1883 March |
11/5 | Bills -- A-D |
1883 May |
11/6 | Bills -- F-G |
1883 May |
11/7 | Bills -- H-S |
1883 May |
11/8 | Bills -- T-Z |
1883 May |
11/9 | Bills -- A-D |
1883 June |
12/1 | Bills -- F-G |
1883 June |
12/2 | Bills -- H-S |
1883 June |
12/3 | Bills -- T-Z |
1883 June |
12/4 | Bills -- A-D |
1883 July |
12/5 | Bills -- F-G |
1883 July |
12/6 | Bills -- N-S |
1883 July |
12/7 | Bills -- T-Z |
1883 July |
12/8 | Bills -- A-D |
1883 September |
12/9 | Bills -- F |
1883 September |
13/1 | Bills -- G-S |
1883 September |
13/2 | Bills -- T-Z |
1883 September |
13/3 | Bills -- A-D |
1883 October |
13/4 | Bills -- F |
1883 October |
13/5 | Bills -- G-S |
1883 October |
13/6 | Bills -- T-Z |
1883 October |
13/7 | Bills -- A-D |
1883 November |
13/8 | Bills -- F-G |
1883 November |
13/9 | Bills -- H-S |
1883 November |
13/10 | Bills -- T-Z |
1883 November |
Series E: Personal papers of Henry W. Corbett, 1853-1922, undatedReturn to Top
This series consists of papers relating to Henry Corbett's family life, residence, personal business interests, and public service.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Subseries 1: Personal and family
papers
21
folders (3 volumes in oversize box)
|
1853-1922; undated | |
Box/Folder | ||
14/1 | Correspondence
Correspondents include Henry J. Corbett, Henry Failing,
General William T. Sherman, and Henry Villard. Also includes two letters from
Henry E. Dosch regarding the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition.
|
1853-1902 |
19/12 | Letters to Edward
Corbett |
1864; 1867 |
14/2 | Receipts
Includes receipts for personal expenses, taxes, memberships,
and charitable contributions.
|
1855-1881 |
19/13 | YMCA dues receipt |
1857 November 4 |
19/14 | First Presbyterian Church
(Portland, Or.) invoices |
1875 |
14/3 | Personal ephemera
Includes Henry Corbett's calling card, Mrs. Corbett's 1855
library catalog for the Congregational Church of Portland Sunday school, and
documents relating to the resolution to commemorate Henry Failing by the Oregon
Pioneer Association, 1899.
|
1855; 1899; undated |
19/15 | Ephemera |
1868-1869 |
19/16 | Oregon Alpine Club
correspondence |
1888 April 25 and 30 |
19/17 | Portland Automobile Club
letter |
1909 June 9 |
16/2 | Passport of Henry W. Corbett
and wife |
1873 March 7 |
14/4 | Construction of Corbett
Residence
Invoices, payroll, and accounts relating to the construction
of the Corbett Residence at 825 SW 5th, Portland.
|
1875-1876 |
19/18 | Corbett Residence - Description
and list of house parts |
circa 1874 |
14/5 | Guardianship of Benjamin
Franklin Smith Caffrey |
1886-1889 |
14/6 | Estate Papers of Joseph
Fox |
1863-1902 |
14/7 | Inez Peterson case |
1899-1900; undated |
14/8 | Will and Executors Report on
Estate of Henry J. Corbett |
1895 |
19/19 | H. J. Corbett Estate - tax
receipt |
1917 March 20 |
14/9 | Obituaries of Henry W.
Corbett |
1903 |
16/3 | Memorial book commemorating
Henry W. Corbett |
1903 |
16/4 | Memorial broadside
commemorating Henry W. Corbett |
1903 |
Box 20 | Estate of H. W. Corbett account
books
|
1909-1922 |
19/20 | Photographs - Portraits of H.W.
Corbett
Includes carte de visite of Senator Corbett taken in Matthew
Brady's Washington, D.C. studio, circa 1867
|
undated |
Subseries 2: Personal investments and business
interests 15
folders
Folders 14/10 and 14/11 also contain miscellaneous documentation
relating to land investments by Corbett and others
|
1853-1904 | |
Box/Folder | ||
14/10 | Title deeds and
abstracts |
1853-1879 |
14/11 | Title deeds and
abstracts |
1880-1904 |
19/21 | Oregon Iron Company
invoices |
1866; 1868 |
14/12 | Oregon-California Stage Company
-- Correspondence
A note in this file indicates that this collection of letters
may have been purchased by the Corbett family from Goodspeed's in Boston,
Massachusetts, at an unknown date.
|
1862-1867 |
16/5 | Oregon Stage Company,
Californian and Oregon United States Mail Line -- Way bills and
accounts |
1867 |
19/22 | Oregon Stage Company,
Californian and Oregon United States Mail Line -- Way bills and
accounts |
1866-1867 |
14/13 | Corbett properties
Invoices, receipts, and accounts relating to Henry Corbett's
Portland properties. Includes livery and blacksmithing services in addition to
building repairs and services.
|
1873-1876 |
19/23 | H. W. Corbett --
Building-related receipts |
1874-1876 |
14/14 | Stocks and bonds |
1871-1904 |
14/15 | Oregonian Publishing
Company |
1873-1895 |
14/16 | First National Bank of
Portland |
1875-1900 |
19/24 | Promissary note to H.W.
Corbett |
1883 November 15 |
14/17 | Public utilities |
1898-1899 |
17/5 | Personal checks |
1876 |
14/18 | Ladd and Tilton Investment
Company -- Cancelled checks |
1898-1901 |
19/25 | Assorted business papers with
unknown connection |
1855-1857 |
19/26 | Assorted legal
documents
|
1857-1858 |
Subseries 3: Political papers 6
folders
Letters, speeches, and documents concerning Henry W. Corbett's
service in the U.S. Senate representing the State of Oregon.
|
1867-1902; undated | |
Box/Folder | ||
15/1 | Letters to Senator Henry W.
Corbett |
1867-1902; undated |
19/27 | Senator Henry W. Corbett
correspondence |
1868-1872 |
15/2 | Speeches, US Senate |
1867-1872 |
15/3 | Miscellaneous
documents
Nominations, agreements, newspaper clippings, campaign
accounts.
|
1898-1901; undated |
15/4 | J. W. P. Huntington
Estate |
1870-1871 |
15/5 | Unmatched envelopes |
Series F: Corbett family letters, 1937-1944Return to Top
Materials from Library Accession 16312, March 1983. Forms Mss 1110-1.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
15/6 | Letters to Hamilton F. Corbett
and Harriet Cumming Corbett
Correspondents are General George C. Marshall and his wife,
Katherine T. Marshall. The majority of the letters are addressed to Harriet
Corbett.
|
1937-1944 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Banks and banking--Oregon--Portland.
- Businessmen--Oregon--Portland.
- Legislators--United States--Oregon.
- Merchants--Oregon--Portland.
Personal Names
- Corbett, Hamilton F. -- Correspondence
- Corbett, Harriet Cumming -- Correspondence
- Corbett, Henry W. (Henry Winslow), 1827-1903 (creator)
- Corbett, Henry W. (Henry Winslow), 1927-1903--Correspondence
- Corbett, Henry W. (Henry Winslow), 1927-1903--Homes and haunts--Oregon--Portland
Corporate Names
- First National Bank of Portland (Or.).
- Ladd and Tilton Investment Co. (Portland, Or.).
- Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition (1905 : Portland, Or.).
- Oregon-California Stage Company.
- Oregonian (Firm).
Family Names
- Corbett family--Correspondence.
Geographical Names
- Portland (Or.)--Business enterprises.
Form or Genre Terms
- Account books.
- Bills of lading.
- Business letters.
- Checks (Bank checks).
- Deeds.
- Ephemera.
- Estate records.
- Financial records.
- Invoices.
- Personal correspondence.
- Promissory notes
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Failing, Henry, 1834-1898 (creator)
- Failing, Josiah, 1806-1877 (creator)
- Hatt, John A. (creator)
- House, Samuel T. (creator)
Corporate Names
- Josiah Failing and Company (Portland, Or.) (creator)
- Corbett, Failing and Company (Portland, Or.) (creator)
- Failings and Hatt (creator)
- H. W. Corbett Company (Portland, Or.) (creator)
- H. W. Corbett and Company (Portland, Or.) (creator)
Family Names
- Corbett family (creator)